Minneapolis Mayor Defends Controversial Comments After Fatal ICE Shooting

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is standing by his recent remarks that included strong language directed at federal immigration agents after a tragic incident last week. This followed the shooting death of a driver during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation.

Last Wednesday, Frey urged ICE representatives to “leave Minneapolis,” expressing his discontent with their actions in a city that opposes the aggressive immigration policies of the Trump administration. His statements received significant backlash, with some officials contending that the driver had escalated the situation, leading to a self-defense scenario for the officers involved.

“I apologize for any offense taken by my words,” Frey stated during an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”

He acknowledged the importance of de-escalation in his role as mayor but maintained that his choice of words should not overshadow the gravity of the situation—someone had lost their life.

“It’s absolutely my responsibility to calm things down,” he continued. “I think it’s also important to highlight that the protests here have been peaceful. We had around 10,000 people marching yesterday, expressing their First Amendment rights without incident.”

“But it’s crucial to recognize who really ignited this situation. Sure, I might have said a few things, but the real issue is the fact that someone was killed. That’s the real incident here, not just my comments,” he added, hinting at the wider implications of the shooting.

Frey later reiterated his stance on social media, slightly altering his earlier language but maintaining the core message: “Today is a good day for ICE to pull out of Minnesota.”

The incident involved 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was shot by ICE agents after they partially blocked the road during their operation in a residential neighborhood.

The shooting has stirred considerable unrest, with federal officials labeling Good’s actions as potentially threatening, while witnesses and community leaders argue she was merely trying to escape the encirclement of agents.